On 9 December 2025, Carmarthenshire Archives and West Wales Action for Mental Health marked a special milestone with a celebratory event for the successful completion of a second Change Minds Project. This achievement was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Welsh Government’s Regional Integration Fund (RIF), which enabled the delivery of an eight-week programme that truly made a difference.
Change Minds is a unique initiative that brings together mental health support and heritage engagement. It offers participants the opportunity to explore historical archives while reflecting on their own personal stories. Over eight weeks, participants delved into local asylum records, uncovered fascinating insights into Carmarthenshire’s past, and shared their experiences in a safe, supportive environment.
One participant described the experience as “like opening a window into the past and finding a piece of myself there.” Another reflected, “I never imagined old documents could help me feel so connected—not just to history, but to people today.”
The group uncovered stories of resilience and community from over 100 years ago, sparking conversations about how those themes still resonate. “Reading about someone who faced hardship in the 1920s made me feel less alone,” said one attendee. “It reminded me that struggles are part of life but so is hope.”
The recent event celebrated not only these personal achievements but also the collaborative effort that made it all possible. Poetry and heartfelt speeches filled the room as participants shared what the project meant to them. “This wasn’t just about historical research,” one participant summed up. “It was about finding strength in stories—both theirs and ours.”
Prose and artwork from one of the project participants has been published on the following page for you to see: “Almost one hundred years apart but sharing the same name, Charlotte Anne on the left is from 1926 and has brown eyes, whilst Charlotte Anne on the right is from 2025, with blue eyes“.
Carmarthenshire Archives is proud of this transformative work and looks forward to continuing its mission of connecting people, history, and wellbeing in the future.
You can search the collections and follow the work of Carmarthenshire Archives here: https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/council-services/libraries-archives/carmarthenshire-archives/
Hayden Burns, Archives Transformation Manager
Carmarthenshire Archives
